Aurora Hotel

8.6 Highly Recommended

Food  7      Drinks  9      Ambience  8      Service  10      Value  9     

I just had my birthday at the Aurora, I had the whole floor for my guests and it was amazing, the set up looked just how I wanted it, the night was perfect, the cocktails the staff made were delicious and drink prices very reasonable, the staff fun and nothing was too much trouble for them, great venue for anyone looking for a great night highly recommend.

Aug 21, 2011 

7.6 Recommended

Food  8      Drinks  8      Ambience  8      Service  6      Value  8     

Had dinner here the other night, was very impressed with my laksa. Service was a bit lacking, seeing as we were the only people there I don't think it was much to ask for them to bring our meals to us instead of using a buzzer.

Mar 10, 2010 

5.6 Average

Food  6      Drinks  6      Ambience  6      Service  5      Value  5     

Came here for the first time the other day. It was an ok place for a Tuesday night, not much in the way of ambience but I guess that's a matter of opinion. My partner's meal looked good, grilled chicken breast with pesto and tomatoes and though my squid was nicely cooked, the accompanying salad was dripping with oil and not well seasoned. It was ok, but considering the quality of other pubs around I won't be rushing back.

Mar 05, 2010 

6.6 Recommended

Food  7      Drinks  7      Ambience  7      Service  6      Value  6     

Quite good pub food.

Jan 01, 2010 

4.8 Average

Food  3      Drinks  3      Ambience  7      Service  8      Value  3     

Updated review Dec 08: Sadly I have to agree with the latest comments. The food quality deteriorated after the bistro changed hands and the portion sizes got smaller and prices got bigger! So I have now changed the points for food and value from 8s to 3s.

April 2008 Review: I like coming here for lunch and sitting upstairs on the balcony area. Over the past few weeks I have had the beef burger a couple of times and last week a friend and I both had the chicken schnitzel. Both the burgers and the schnitzel were quite delicious, good size serving, lots of chips and salad.

My other friend always orders the steak sandwich and declares it yummy. They also have blackboard specials which one day I am going to try. Staff are friendly and efficient, as are the bar staff. I have renamed the Aurora, "The Staff Canteen" because we frequent the joint so often now. Keep up the good work guys.

Dec 03, 2008 

4.4 Below Average

Food  2      Drinks  2      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  2     

Unfortunately, the food lets this pub down. The bar staff and the pub itself are great but they changed the people running the bistro earlier this year. The food is very average and you are left feeling ripped off. The beef burger is very mediocre, it doesn't even have onion. The only menu items that are any good are the Indian/Asian inspired one, but when I go to the pub, I really want good pub classics.

The last dish I ordered was the calamari that was a very small serving for $14 and the salad that it came with was tainted with rotten lettuce all of the way through it. I also ordered a rib eye steak ($24) only to receive an inferior tough rump steak. The lamb kofta is very nice and the best classic pub menu item is the chicken schnitzel but steer clear of everything else. Also the garlic bread is the worst I've ever had, a dry pizza base with garlic salt flakes.

Definitely go for the drinks, the roof top, verandah and bar staff but avoid the bistro!

Dec 02, 2008 

4 Below Average

Food  2      Drinks  2      Ambience  8      Service  5      Value  3     

I work just down the road. In my recent visit the food was awful. The venue is very nice but I will never eat there again.

Sep 24, 2008 

2.6 Not Recommended

Food  1      Drinks  1      Ambience  7      Service  3      Value  1     

I've previously been a bit fan of the Aurora after the makeover - Friday lunch on the very top floor in the sun is fantastic. However the past 2 times I've been there, they seem to have changed the menu. The microwave seems to be the appliance of choice. The pizza is horrible, I had Atlantic Salmon which was just 'okay' but definitely wasn't worth $18. What a shame. It has potential but unless they drastically change the quality of the food I will not be back. Why is it so hard to get a good pub feed in Surry Hills?

Jul 21, 2008 

5 Average

Food  7      Drinks  7      Ambience  5      Service  1      Value  5     

Service is terrible, we often go in large groups and the food comes out in batches. There's always someone who hasn't received their meal even after everyone is finished. Food isn't bad however, just extremely frustrating watching the rest of the table eat while you wait 45 minutes for a rare steak.

Oct 02, 2007 

8.4 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Drinks  8      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  9     

Great little hotel that's nice and quiet on the weekends! We've tried numerous items on the menu, and have yet to be disappointed. The prawn pizza and ribs are great. The serving sizes are a bit inconsistent, but usually it's way more than we could eat.

Jun 17, 2007